Van Halen appreciation thread

[lightningbolt]

It took awhile to warm up to the "Tattoo" song.  But after that track, ADKOT was pretty kick ass.  Not sure how many songs were from the 70's, but it was a much better album than I expected.  Haven't played it in quite some time though.

Off the top of my head 6 or 7 are from the 70's and "Blood and Fire" is from Ed's "Ripley" instrumental from 1984.  Hey, whatever, it ended up being a great idea.  Besides, CVH always revisited/reworked older material.  For example, House of Pain on 1984 dates back to the mid 70's.

My favorites are She's the Woman (probably my #1 from ADKOT), You and Your Blues, Blood and Fire, As Is, Honeybabysweetiedoll, and Outta Space.  Least, but still enjoyable, are Tattoo, Big River, and Beats Workin'.

[jjrock88]

Awesome thanks 

[Stadler]

It took awhile to warm up to the "Tattoo" song.  But after that track, ADKOT was pretty kick ass.  Not sure how many songs were from the 70's, but it was a much better album than I expected.  Haven't played it in quite some time though.

Off the top of my head 6 or 7 are from the 70's and "Blood and Fire" is from Ed's "Ripley" instrumental from 1984.  Hey, whatever, it ended up being a great idea.  Besides, CVH always revisited/reworked older material.  For example, House of Pain on 1984 dates back to the mid 70's.

My favorites are She's the Woman (probably my #1 from ADKOT), You and Your Blues, Blood and Fire, As Is, Honeybabysweetiedoll, and Outta Space.  Least, but still enjoyable, are Tattoo, Big River, and Beats Workin'.

By my reckoning, you have it right.  And the upshot is, if you listen to the demos of the songs that originated early on, they do it in the same tempo and the same key.    And you're right; Ed did this their entire career.   By some accounts, a third of "Balance" was (musically) material that was around as far back as when Roth was in the band.

[Stadler]

So, score one for Stadler!!! I have tickets to see Wolfie at Toad's Place in New Haven - a 700 seat club - with Nita Strauss opening up.  I am BEYOND pumped.   I've wanted to see Wolfie for a while (I LOVE the first album) but I'm not going to see him open a stadium show.  I was jealous of... I think it was Cram that saw him at a club in Los Angeles; this isn't quite the same, but close! 

[cramx3]

So, score one for Stadler!!! I have tickets to see Wolfie at Toad's Place in New Haven - a 700 seat club - with Nita Strauss opening up.  I am BEYOND pumped.   I've wanted to see Wolfie for a while (I LOVE the first album) but I'm not going to see him open a stadium show.  I was jealous of... I think it was Cram that saw him at a club in Los Angeles; this isn't quite the same, but close!

I had tickets to see him at Whiskey A Go Go while I was on a business trip in LA but someone got covid or something and they postponed it to a time when I would not be in LA.  I sold it for a nice buck though.

I have seen Wolfie many times now though including on the first leg of the tour you are about to see just a few weeks ago.  He played locally at a 2k GA venue that was basically sold out.  He said it was his biggest headlining show to date (I have it on video, and you can see it in his eyes that I think he is telling the truth).  If you haven't checked it out yet, his second album is pretty good too.  I may like it more than the first.

[Stadler]

I trust your judgment on that; I'll pick it up and give it a listen (I really liked the first one).   I haven't been this pumped for a new artist/band since Rival Sons.  And I'm really jazzed for Nita, after seeing Alice Cooper for the first time a couple weeks ago. She SLAYS.

[hefdaddy42]

So, score one for Stadler!!! I have tickets to see Wolfie at Toad's Place in New Haven - a 700 seat club - with Nita Strauss opening up.  I am BEYOND pumped.   I've wanted to see Wolfie for a while (I LOVE the first album) but I'm not going to see him open a stadium show.  I was jealous of... I think it was Cram that saw him at a club in Los Angeles; this isn't quite the same, but close!

Nice!  That should be a good show.

Although, if I'm being honest, I would be more excited to see Nita Strauss than Wolfie.

[cramx3]

I thought Nita was a bit of a letdown IMO.  Of course she's amazing on guitar, but I didn't care for her singer that tours with her. Band was solid, and I even like some of her solo songs she did, but I just struggled to really enjoy it that night almost entirely because of the vocalist.

[devieira73]

The next video will be with MP (Modern Drummer tribute to Alex VH):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2ViAYK1BU0&t=197s
This one with Ray is amazing, specially for people that love OU812.

[frogprog]

The video with Ray was great. He's a beast of a drummer and really broke down Al's parts in a way that was easy to follow along with. A lot of Al's parts/feel seem deceptively  easy...but they are not.

[ProfessorPeart]

Dave doesn't care for Wolfie:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-lee-roth-wolfgang-van-halen-youtube-attacks-1234953442/

Shocker.

[jammindude]

Dave doesn't care for Wolfie:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-lee-roth-wolfgang-van-halen-youtube-attacks-1234953442/

Shocker.

While I’ve seen DLR act like a pompous ass for the better part of the last 6 decades, he usually spins it in such a way that makes him appear to smell like a rose.

This is the first thing I’ve seen him do that is BLATANTLY on the “low road” side of the equation.

I’ve rolled my eyes at him plenty over the years, but this is the first time I’ve ever been seriously annoyed and disappointed with him.

[hefdaddy42]

I'm sure Wolfgang give a fuck what DLR thinks.

[cramx3]

I'm sure Wolfgang give a fuck what DLR thinks.

Wolfie is admittingly cordial with him, I agree.  I think Wolfie knows Dave well enough to know he's full of it.

Not that I'm saying DLR is wrong here, what do I know? Maybe Wolfie did have some lady accountants kicked out.  Either way, it's not really a good look for DLR to start talking about it now. 

He also was saying some crazy stuff about Sammy and aliens?  I didn't read that news last week, just brushed it off, but it makes me think DLR is losing it a bit more than we realized.

[frogprog]

Happy Birthday, Ed. I'd like to think you are proudly smiling down on Wolf's success.

[pg1067]

Dave doesn't care for Wolfie:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/david-lee-roth-wolfgang-van-halen-youtube-attacks-1234953442/

Shocker.

It's paywalled.  What's the gist?

[ProfessorPeart]

It's free to me and I have never had a Rolling Stone account.

Anyway, Louder can give you the details.

https://www.loudersound.com/news/david-lee-roth-attack-wolfgang-van-halen

[Trav86]

It's free to me and I have never had a Rolling Stone account.

Anyway, Louder can give you the details.

https://www.loudersound.com/news/david-lee-roth-attack-wolfgang-van-halen

The podcast he put out before that, blasting Sammy, Ed and Al was way worse. I mean…it was bad.

[Fonzie]

40-odd years of frustrations that he can talk openly about.
Get it all off his chest without having to be diplomatic.

I get it.

[HOF]

Heh, I really like this.

“If JUMP by Van Halen Was Written For Millennials (Acoustic Alt-Pop Indie Rock Cover)”

https://youtu.be/-aMTR2_u4Uo?si=oQ6o82GYuengEaoE

[jammindude]

Heh, I really like this.

“If JUMP by Van Halen Was Written For Millennials (Acoustic Alt-Pop Indie Rock Cover)”

https://youtu.be/-aMTR2_u4Uo?si=oQ6o82GYuengEaoE

That is fantastic. I actually prefer that to the original.

[TAC]

https://bravewords.com/news/alex-van-halen-to-release-autobiography-this-october


Interesting.

[frogprog]

VERY interesting

[Stadler]

I'm in.

[El Barto]

VERY interesting

It'll certainly be that. No idea what else it'll be. The dude spent large parts of his career blackout drunk and almost completely incapable of functioning. He's also 100% loyal to his brother (and rightly so, if we're being honest), so we shouldn't be expecting much objectivity. But yeah, it'll be interesting.

[Mosh]

I expect it to be a very trashy piece of Eddie and Alex propaganda. Still interested though.

[Setlist Scotty]

I expect it to be a very trashy piece of Eddie and Alex propaganda. Still interested though.

I agree. Can't imagine much objectivity in this one.

[jammindude]

I expect it to be a very trashy piece of Eddie and Alex propaganda. Still interested though.

I agree. Can't imagine much objectivity in this one.

Me three

[Stadler]

Are any of these "objective", though?  Is that why we're reading it?

[pg1067]

Heh, I really like this.

“If JUMP by Van Halen Was Written For Millennials (Acoustic Alt-Pop Indie Rock Cover)”

https://youtu.be/-aMTR2_u4Uo?si=oQ6o82GYuengEaoE

Wow...that's awful.  The original isn't great, but it's fun, and this takes all the fun out of it.

[WardySI]

Heh, I really like this.

“If JUMP by Van Halen Was Written For Millennials (Acoustic Alt-Pop Indie Rock Cover)”

https://youtu.be/-aMTR2_u4Uo?si=oQ6o82GYuengEaoE

Wow...that's awful.  The original isn't great, but it's fun, and this takes all the fun out of it.

Sure the original is very of its time but Millennials can keep this, I'll stick with the original thanks!

[Setlist Scotty]

Are any of these "objective", though?  Is that why we're reading it?

Well of course we want to hear a person's story when reading their biography, but as Mosh described it, when it's a propaganda piece, it's hard to believe any of it as truthful. Might as well read a fiction story instead. Of course, there will always be some measure of bias and it is from a person's specific perspective, but it would be easy for them to knowingly include fabricated or purposefully exaggerated stories and unless we know otherwise, have to take it at face value. Put it this way, I don't think he's ever released one, but if he has or if he ever does, I'd never bother reading a biography from DLR for that very reason. I'm sure there will be more accuracy in Alex's biography, but the question is how much?

[jammindude]

If DLR ever wrote a biography, it would probably have to be released in 3 volumes.

Literally the only guy in rock history where Hit Parader magazine had to release a “double issue!!!” every time they interviewed him.

I will say that I always thought that his interviews made an entertaining read. Even though he could be long winded, he was never boring.  However I don’t think his schtick would carry an entire autobiography.

[Mosh]

I was almost certain there was a DLR book called Crazy From the Heat. It might be kind of old though.

[LithoJazzoSphere]

Yep.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crazy_from_the_Heat_(book)

Heh, I really like this.

“If JUMP by Van Halen Was Written For Millennials (Acoustic Alt-Pop Indie Rock Cover)”

https://youtu.be/-aMTR2_u4Uo?si=oQ6o82GYuengEaoE

I'm not entirely sure what band(s) he's trying to emulate here, I don't think bass solos are common anywhere in that orbit.  I enjoyed that addition to it though.  I like a lot of Melton's pop-punk and emo covers, making them generally much more listenable than the originals.  So I much prefer his voice to DLR's, but EVH's Oberheim synth intro, solo, and the guitar solo on the original are too iconic to be ignored.